Magical Respirator

I can be a very slow learner, especially when I'm enthusiastic about something.

Last year when I got sick, I acknowledged there was a problem I needed to address immediately. It took my Auto Body Shop (doing an unrelated fender repair) pointing out a faint red powder all over my charcoal gray car.

Spray painting within a large cardboard box in the garage is not safe. Paint particles travel. How many were in my lungs...my bloodstream? Was this why I was feeling so sick?

I researched the problem., and because I found only complex and very expensive solutions, I vowed to give up spray painting my boxes. (Each little box gets at least 4 coats of paint with sanding in between....and I like the smooth finish!)

The paint must have gotten to my brain, as well, because by this year, I only remembered I couldn't paint in the garage, that it would ruin my car.

I spray painted only outside and got sick again. I like getting up close and personal to my work, and was oblivious to breathing in the fumes. Ever since I worked as a Commercial Artist I have loved the smell of paint. (It's not so easy to couple nausea, headaches, body aches, and dizziness with an activity you thoroughly enjoy.)

A FaceBook friend steered me to a safe, inexpensive solution. I'm elated! Now to find some safety goggles large enough to go over my glasses .....

Spray Paint Fool

It doesn't seem possible, but it happened anyway!  A very fine purple film all over my car was discovered. Yes, the same purple as is on this box shrine.

I LOVE spray paint!  Yes, I can get a better color range in brush-on acrylics, but I can't get the finish I want.  Just as all my box shrines, this one...entitled "Play"...has many, many coats of spray paint, with sanding in between coats, to achieve the professional silky finish I seek. 

I spray within large cardboard boxes set up in my large garage.  To keep the dust out, I generally do not have the garage door open....though I know I should have more ventilation. (I am a slow learner.)

Luckily, no damage was done to my car as it has a very nice protective sealer and the purple film had not baked on (which it might have in the Texas summer heat). 

I have been advised by the Toyota Body Shop that spray paint particles migrate quite far and to never use any sprays in my garage without moving the car out first.  But, what about my hair?  What about my lungs?  Now that I have actually SEEN what happens, I must get a respirator. Or, I could use brushed on acrylics.  Or, cover the boxes in paper....or?  Sometimes, life is just so complicated.  Now I'm even wondering about breathing in sanding particles....